TOWN WINTER ROAD
MAINTENANCE UPDATE
Now that winter has finally arrived, the Town Department of Public Works wishes to remind residents and property owners of the Town’s winter road maintenance procedures.
Extracted from, Chapter 29 – Town Procedure, St. Germain Code of Ordinances:
Snow and ice control: The following are general guidelines subject to deviation at the discretion of the Public Works Department Superintendent:
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Mondays through Fridays (excluding holidays): Public Works will plow when two or more inches of show have accumulated. Start time and order in which roads are plowed is at the discretion of Public Works.
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Holidays or weekends: Public Works will plow when four or more inches of snow have accumulated. Start time and order in which roads will be plowed is at the discretion of Public Works.
Sanding, widening, and snowbank removal will be done as needed with traffic safety being the primary focus. Additionally, the Public Works will respond as needed to emergency conditions upon request by Vilas County Law Enforcement or the Town of St. Germain Fire Chief. Response to these requests may result in actions beyond what are normally performed by Public Works.
The Town crew plows 87 miles (147 lane miles) of Town roads, plus parking lots at town facilities, with three plow trucks operated by three full-time employees and various other smaller equipment with part-time employees as needed. Total time to accomplish that is typically eight to twenty hours plus, depending on snow density, weather conditions, functionality of equipment, and other sometimes unpredictable factors.
Plowing private roads and driveways: It is understandable that not everyone can wait to remove snow from their driveways until after the town plows have come and gone. But everyone engaged in clearing driveways and private roads needs to understand Wisconsin Statute 346.94(5), which states “Placing injurious substance on highway: No person shall place or cause to be placed upon a highway any foreign substance which is or may be injurious to any vehicle or part thereof.” The term “Highway” includes town roads. “Injurious substance” includes snow. Sometimes there is no option to pushing snow across a town road to dispose of it. But leaving any of that pushed snow on the roadway or road shoulder can result in ruts that Town truck blades can catch, potentially causing the blade to trip which can result in the driver losing control of the truck, The Department of Public Works asks anyone plowing driveways or private roads to please avoid this potentially dangers and illegal practice.
This year's late start to winter: The late arrival of winter has enabled the Town crew to catch up on maintenance of equipment and Town buildings: (1) trucks oil changes; (2) new plow blades on truck fronts, wings and underbellies where needed; (3) sending the Wheel Loader to McCoy for much-needed repairs; (4) servicing and storing lawnmowers and chainsaws; (5) Housekeeping at the Town Shop (filled the scrap dumpster again); (6) washing and waxing Community Center floors; (7) installing new and re-addressed fire number signs and street signs where there are new homes. The crew has been busy!
The Department of Public Works Superintendent is Tom Stoltman. Tom is supervised by two Town Board members. Please direct all questions or comments (including friendly ones!) to Tom at either tom.stoltman@stgermainwi.gov or 715-891-5733. Tom and his crew are committed to reliable and high-quality winter road maintenance. Your feedback to him will be appreciated.
Best wishes to all for safe and uneventful winter driving!
